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vanquishingvolumes's review against another edition
3.0
A Decent Holiday Smattering of Horror
This anthology was a wild ride. Some storied were just graphic and dark, while others were creepy and unsettling. A good Christmas read overall.
This anthology was a wild ride. Some storied were just graphic and dark, while others were creepy and unsettling. A good Christmas read overall.
ericarobyn's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
4.5
The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition is a must-own for fans of holiday horror! From the chilling to the full-blown brutal, this has a bit of everything included in just 11 tales!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also ordered myself a copy.
I can’t get over this collection… I love that I never know what to expect when I pick up a book from this publisher. I know I’m always in for a wild ride though, that’s for sure!
My favorite tales from this collection included:
- Tradition by Steve Stred
- Let the Damn Elves Die Already by Veronica Smith
- Santa Claws by Patrick Reuman
- The Christmas Cabin from Hell by Kevin J. Kennedy
Per usual, here are my notes on each tale:
Tradition by Steve Stred
A family with a Christmas obsessed father heads in a trip to bring home the perfect Christmas tree. But of course, this isn’t a quick trip in and out. There’s someone else in the grove of trees…
A family with a Christmas obsessed father heads in a trip to bring home the perfect Christmas tree. But of course, this isn’t a quick trip in and out. There’s someone else in the grove of trees…
With Steve you always know you’re going to get something really intense! My god, what a tale to kick this collection off with. It started so heartwarming and then turned absolutely terrifying!
Top Floor: Seasonal Furnishings and Christmas Decorations by Lex H Jones
When tasked to clear out a department store that had once been something wonderful, a man finds a hidden room. As he goes to explore, he finds out why it had been sealed off.
When tasked to clear out a department store that had once been something wonderful, a man finds a hidden room. As he goes to explore, he finds out why it had been sealed off.
This tale was super unsettling. It was so tough to watch the poor character get sucked in!
Pennies for Santa by RJ Roles
When a bell ringer discovers the mall Santa and his elves are asking kids for their spare change, he’s furious that it is cutting into his take. After talking to the Santa Clause doesn’t go well, he decides to take things into his own hands.
When a bell ringer discovers the mall Santa and his elves are asking kids for their spare change, he’s furious that it is cutting into his take. After talking to the Santa Clause doesn’t go well, he decides to take things into his own hands.
This one is filled with darkness. It certainly makes you think twice of bringing your kids to see Santa or donating to any of the bell ringers…
Clitoris Krampus by Zoltán Komor
Not one for me, but fans of super bizarre and sexual happy are gonna love this!
Not one for me, but fans of super bizarre and sexual happy are gonna love this!
Let the Damn Elves Die Already by Veronica Smith
One Christmas ends with a little girl being sent to a psych hospital. Ten years later, she’s back with her parents and things seem to be well. But when she hears a certain song, things start to scare her. looking to find out what happened that one Christmas, this girl is determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
One Christmas ends with a little girl being sent to a psych hospital. Ten years later, she’s back with her parents and things seem to be well. But when she hears a certain song, things start to scare her. looking to find out what happened that one Christmas, this girl is determined to make sure it doesn’t happen again.
I loved this one so much! The first scene is absolutely terrifying. Seeing the girl go through that was just horrible. But when she’s back home, her bravery and determination was so wonderful to see. I was rooting for her so much! And I absolutely loved the ending.
The Mall Santa by Eric Butler
When a group of men break into the house of a mall Santa, they think it’s going to be an easy job. But once they start getting split up, it’s everyone for themselves as they try to escape the maze.
When a group of men break into the house of a mall Santa, they think it’s going to be an easy job. But once they start getting split up, it’s everyone for themselves as they try to escape the maze.
This tale is brutal! A wonderful story about being naughty or nice!
Santa Claws by Patrick Reuman
Set as a story inside a story, readers are informed of who Santa Claws is. While On one hand, it’s said to be just a story, on the other it seems very real indeed!
Set as a story inside a story, readers are informed of who Santa Claws is. While On one hand, it’s said to be just a story, on the other it seems very real indeed!
Terrifying and brutal! This one will certainly haunt my dreams.
A Last Change Christmas Miracle by Matthew V. Brockmeyer
A father that’s brewing up a special batch of meth, an older brother that has hired a sex worker for his younger brother who has murderous plans, and a young brother who just misses his mom are each trying to make the most of their Christmas Eve.
A father that’s brewing up a special batch of meth, an older brother that has hired a sex worker for his younger brother who has murderous plans, and a young brother who just misses his mom are each trying to make the most of their Christmas Eve.
Phew, this one was so upsetting. This poor boy. I hope he ends up okay!
Blood, Bullets and Baubles by David Owain Hughes
When men on a job think they’ve got this one in the bag, things suddenly go sideways…
When men on a job think they’ve got this one in the bag, things suddenly go sideways…
The beginning of the tale sets the scene as we get to know what these people are doing, but then once the first moment of intensity happens, this story is action packed until the end!
Golden Ticket by Matthew A. Clarke
Not one for me.
Not one for me.
The Christmas Cabin from Hell by Kevin J. Kennedy
When a brother and sister reunite for Christmas, they’re shocked when snowmen suddenly appear outside the cabin they rented. But things only get stranger from there!
When a brother and sister reunite for Christmas, they’re shocked when snowmen suddenly appear outside the cabin they rented. But things only get stranger from there!
Ah I love a good cabin in the woods tale! Take that and add in some living snowmen?! Yes please!
My Final Thoughts on The Best of Indie Horror: Christmas Edition
I was saving this one to kick off my holiday reading this year, and it was the most perfect collection to do just that.
This is yet another collection from KJK Publishing that has a little something for horror fans of all types! Do yourself a favor and go pick this one up today!
ericarobyn's review
5.0
I was so excited to see this line up of authors in the Table of Contents of The Best Of Indie Horror presented by Kevin J Kennedy! And many of these titles really sparked my interest.
This collection is another 5 star read for me!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy!
Okay, first things first… I’m OBSESSED with this cover. How amazing is that?! I need a print copy of this one ASAP.
Per usual, here are my quick thoughts on each tale:
Another Warrior in Paradise by Calvin Demmer – 5/5
Oh the promise of Paradise… It just never seems to work out, does it? The second our main character entered the cave, I dreaded seeing what would happen next. Absolutely terrifying!
Refuge by Lee Mountford – 5/5
What a twisted tale! After a group go on the run after a robbery gone wrong, this tale takes a brutal and horrific turn!
Misdiale by Mark Lukens – 5/5
Goodness… the number of times I have accidentally called a wrong number. What a terrifying plot!
Over the Precipice by J.C. Michael- 4/5
My goodness, the anger in this man! Phew!!
Making a Difference by Mike Duke- 5/5
Phew! First of all, what a conversation to have with a bunch of six year olds! That was insanely brutal! Second, what an intense and scary world they all live in!
Martina’s Gelato by John R. Little – 4/5
This poor girl! What a way to spend a birthday…
Cold Blooded by Tim Curran – 4/5
Phew, what an intense tale! I loved not knowing what creature we were dealing with up until the very end.
The Suicide Shagger by David Owain Hughes – 4/5
This guy…. I was so glad to see that he was about to finally change his mindset, but by then it was too late.
On Set with North by Mark Cassell- 4/5
Phew. This one reminded me of Color Out Of Space a bit, but technology based. What a bizarre and creepy tale!
The Black Rock by Andrew Lennon – 4/5
Yessss I loved the path this one took!
The Dark Sign by Christina Bergling – 4/5
Good lord this one was messed up! This poor teenager…
Love on a Rooftop by Christopher Motz – 3/5
My god the anger in these two! I hate them both! What a scary tale to read on a rainy day…
Into the Mystic by Steven Stacy – 3/5
Oh no! Well, that Valentine’s Day certainly took a turn!
The Duffle Bag by Douglas Hackle –
Not one for me.
Gobstopper by Kyle M. Scott – 5/5
My goodness!! I loved this one so much. It was absolutely brutal with the bullying, but that candy shop and the candy the kid walked away with was amazing!
Out of the Strong by Shaun Hutson – 4/5
Go bees! I loved the payback here.
Dreamtime by Lee Murray and Nichola Lombardi – 4/5
What a heartbreaking and terrifying tale! This one started out in such a normal, everyday life scene. I definitely couldn’t have guessed where it was going!
The Edge of the World by Lex H Jones – 5/5
Ah! Another heartbreaking and terrifying tale! This one made me tear up!
My Final Thoughts
Another amazing collection of tales that I would be happy to return to time and time again! I don’t know how Kevin J. Kennedy does it, but he always includes so many killer stories that I just love!
This collection is another 5 star read for me!
Full disclosure: I was given a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This did not affect my rating in any way. I also purchased a copy!
Okay, first things first… I’m OBSESSED with this cover. How amazing is that?! I need a print copy of this one ASAP.
Per usual, here are my quick thoughts on each tale:
Another Warrior in Paradise by Calvin Demmer – 5/5
Oh the promise of Paradise… It just never seems to work out, does it? The second our main character entered the cave, I dreaded seeing what would happen next. Absolutely terrifying!
Refuge by Lee Mountford – 5/5
What a twisted tale! After a group go on the run after a robbery gone wrong, this tale takes a brutal and horrific turn!
Misdiale by Mark Lukens – 5/5
Goodness… the number of times I have accidentally called a wrong number. What a terrifying plot!
Over the Precipice by J.C. Michael- 4/5
My goodness, the anger in this man! Phew!!
Making a Difference by Mike Duke- 5/5
Phew! First of all, what a conversation to have with a bunch of six year olds! That was insanely brutal! Second, what an intense and scary world they all live in!
Martina’s Gelato by John R. Little – 4/5
This poor girl! What a way to spend a birthday…
Cold Blooded by Tim Curran – 4/5
Phew, what an intense tale! I loved not knowing what creature we were dealing with up until the very end.
The Suicide Shagger by David Owain Hughes – 4/5
This guy…. I was so glad to see that he was about to finally change his mindset, but by then it was too late.
On Set with North by Mark Cassell- 4/5
Phew. This one reminded me of Color Out Of Space a bit, but technology based. What a bizarre and creepy tale!
The Black Rock by Andrew Lennon – 4/5
Yessss I loved the path this one took!
The Dark Sign by Christina Bergling – 4/5
Good lord this one was messed up! This poor teenager…
Love on a Rooftop by Christopher Motz – 3/5
My god the anger in these two! I hate them both! What a scary tale to read on a rainy day…
Into the Mystic by Steven Stacy – 3/5
Oh no! Well, that Valentine’s Day certainly took a turn!
The Duffle Bag by Douglas Hackle –
Not one for me.
Gobstopper by Kyle M. Scott – 5/5
My goodness!! I loved this one so much. It was absolutely brutal with the bullying, but that candy shop and the candy the kid walked away with was amazing!
Out of the Strong by Shaun Hutson – 4/5
Go bees! I loved the payback here.
Dreamtime by Lee Murray and Nichola Lombardi – 4/5
What a heartbreaking and terrifying tale! This one started out in such a normal, everyday life scene. I definitely couldn’t have guessed where it was going!
The Edge of the World by Lex H Jones – 5/5
Ah! Another heartbreaking and terrifying tale! This one made me tear up!
My Final Thoughts
Another amazing collection of tales that I would be happy to return to time and time again! I don’t know how Kevin J. Kennedy does it, but he always includes so many killer stories that I just love!
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